AKP Phnom Penh, June 17, 2026 --

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) and the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) have launched a nationwide campaign to verify the identities of SIM card users against their bank and payment accounts, aiming to strengthen digital security and curb technology-enabled fraud.

The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the two institutions on Dec. 10, 2025, and brings together regulators, banks, financial institutions, and mobile network operators in a coordinated effort to tackle identity theft and online scams.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Campaign to Verify SIM Card Users’ Identities with their Bank/Payment Accounts held on June 17, H.E. Chea Vandeth, Minister of MPTC and Chairman of the Digital Government Committee, described the campaign as “the fruit of good cooperation between MPTC and NBC”.

He said the programme seeks to address domestic fraud committed through stolen identities while also accelerating digital transformation in both the telecommunications and financial sectors.

“The campaign that we are announcing today is very important for general SIM card users because phone numbers are linked to bank accounts, digital wallets, money transfers, social networks, and many public and private services,” H.E. Chea Vandeth said.

He noted that the verification exercise would help cut off the roots of domestic crimes through technology by identifying SIM cards with unclear ownership and preventing their misuse within the banking system.

The Minister stressed that the campaign reflects a broader commitment by both institutions to build trust in Cambodia’s growing digital ecosystem.

H.E. Dr. Chea Serey, NBC Governor, said the campaign was officially launched to raise public awareness of the verification mechanism and encourage wider participation.

“Verifying the authenticity of users’ phone numbers and SIM cards is very important in protecting the security of personal data such as OTP codes and user accounts, as well as helping to prevent social media fraud,” she said.

The NBC Governor added that aligning SIM registration with bank and payment account identities would significantly reduce risks of fraud, identity theft, and misuse of digital financial services.

By Sum Kosal